President's Message

Greetings Dogwooders,

Did you ever wonder why chapter news always includes a message from your president? Me too. Could it be because presidents feel a need to share superior intellect? Possibly, but I think the intended audience for this news would see through this pretty quickly.

Rather than ramble on about rallies, motor homes, volunteering and things like that, I think I’ll share a few thoughts about change. When I was waking this morning from a fairly restless sleep, I was thinking about my dad who would be 100 if he were still alive. I was recalling a story he told me years ago about the changes he had seen during his life. He told me of the first car that he ever saw and offered an account of how he and other children ran behind it on a dusty road, fascinated by this newfangled contraption.

Quite naturally, these thoughts lead to changes that I’ve seen and enjoyed in my lifetime. I’ve started a list, some of which I’ll include here to illustrate.

Typewriters - typewriter erasers, special easy erase paper, white out

Recorders - reel to reel, 8 track, cassette

Portable radios - my first one had tubes and batteries that cost a months allowance, next came transistor radios- my first was very compact, about the size of 3 packs of cigarettes

Telephones - Party lines, phones with no dial mechanism, dial phones, cell phones in a bag, cell phones ( large ones that wouldn’t fit in your pocket)

Cameras – Box cameras, flash bulbs, 35 mm, 110, Polaroid, film

Maps

Phone book

Television - Tubes, Black and White CRT, Color CRT, Projection, Plasma, LCD, LED

Home Delivery - Milk delivered to the door in bottles, Fuller Brush, Charlie’s Chips

Think about it, make your own list and bring it with you to the next event where we’re together. We could have a good time sharing.

In the mean time, safe travels.

Mann

GEAR October

GEAR (the Greater Eastern Area Rally) will be held October 20-24 in Winston-Salem NC.

Cil & Fairleigh Schoolar have graciously volunteered to host a Dogwood happy hour during the rally. Tentative plans are for the happy hour to be held late afternoon Thursday. Please let us know by emailing fmcaDogwood@gmail.com or calling Carolyn at 804-272-1328 if you will be attending GEAR so that we can let you know when and where the happy hour will be.

If you are interested in volunteering at the rally, contact Max Hicks, for driving trams (golf carts) or Berkley Alexander for monitoring seminars. You must have a Volunteer pass in order to enter the fairgrounds early.

Members who plan to attend: Berkley & Karen Alexander, Max & Barbara Hicks, Wilt & Barbara Greenwood, Mann & Carolyn Duff, Butch & Liz Jones, Jimmy & Margie Elliott, Mo & Shirley Martin, Carl & Donna Gruel, Fairleigh & Cil Schoolar, Paul & Nancy Cummings, Lynn & Betty Gray Faber, Steve & Judy Czarsty

Rally- Urbanna Oyster Festival

Dogwood will have a rally November 4 - 7 at Ed Fisher's garage in conjunction with the Urbanna Oyster Festival. In the past the coaches have parked around his garage then members congregated inside for meals and socializing. Most arrive on Thursday and depart on Sunday. We will be dry camping (limited electricity available for some coaches), however, there is water, electricity and a bathroom inside the garage. This is an informal rally. Berkley collects monies for oysters for roasting and the attendees provide food to share at pot luck dinners and breakfasts.

The Urbanna Oyster Festival will be held on Friday and Saturday (November 5 & 6). Click here to link to the festival's web site.

Space is limited, so if you are interested in attending or have any questions, contact Berkley Alexander 804.754.1308 or (berkleyja007@cadscanning.com ).

Virginia Beach Rally December 3-5

The Christmas rally will be held December 3 - 5 at the Holiday Trav-L-Park Campground in Virginia Beach. Hosts for the rally are Jim & Susan Buelow, Paul & Nancy Cummings, Berkley & Karen Alexander and Mel & Dian Hughes.

Campsites: You must make your own reservation with the campground at 757-425-0249; ask for June and tell her you are with Dogwood. The cost is $36.50 per night, including tax, for a super site which includes concrete pad, 50 amp and cable. The same rate will apply for early arrivals and late departures. The deadline for reserving your campsite is November 15.

Rally Registration: Fees for the rally are $20 per person (or $40 per coach with 2 people). Please mail a check along with the form below to Jim Buelow.

Schedule and Menu:

Friday:

5:00 PM Social hour and snacks. BYOB and bring a snack to share.

6:00 PM Chili dinner. Bring your favorite chili (2 quarts) to share. Bread, crackers, cheese, condiments, dessert provided.

8:00 PM Trolley to Parade of Lights on the Beach (optional). Time is approximate. Cost is about $10 per person.

Saturday:

8:00 AM Coffee

9:00 AM Breakfast to include: eggs, potato casserole, biscuits & gravy, bacon, sausage, fruit, juices

10:00 AM Chapter business meeting

4:00 PM Wine tasting and social hour. Bring a bottle of your favorite wine to share. Snacks provided.

6:00 PM Dinner. Hosts will provide: turkey, ham, regular dressing, cornbread dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, cranberries, and rolls.

Each attendee is asked to bring a casserole, salad, or dessert to share.

7:30 PM Yankee Gift Swap (see description below)

Sunday:

8:00 AM Coffee

9:00 AM Continental Breakfast to include: biscuits, sausage, pastries, fruit, juices

Bring your own plates and eating utensils to all meals. Coffee will be provided at breakfast; otherwise bring your own beverages.

Yankee Gift Swap: This event has become a Dogwood tradition. Each coach is to bring a wrapped gift with a value of $20 to $25. Each coach will draw a number from the hat. #1 selects a gift and opens it. #2 can either take #1's gift or an unopened gift. #3 can take #1 or #2's gift or an unopened gift and so on. There is lots of laughter as gifts are "stolen". Once again, thanks to Donna Gruel who has volunteered to emcee the event.

If you have any questions concerning the rally, contact one of your rally hosts.

Attendees (as of Nov 21): Clint & Pat Allen, Berkley & Karen Alexander, Richard & Elle Bonewitz, Jim & Susan Buelow, Paul & Nancy Cummings, Terry & Judy Davis, Mann & Carolyn Duff, Debby Deffendall (Mel & Dian's daughter), Bobby & Barbara Dyke, Davie Gilbert & Jackie Vito, Wilt & Barbara Greenwood, Carl & Donna Gruel, Steve & Mary Hall, Mel & Dian Hughes, Butch & Liz Jones, Fairleigh & Cil Schoolar, Jim & Donna Venable, Donald & Carol Warthan

_________________________________________

Registration Form for Dogwood Virginia Beach Rally, December 3-5, 2010

Send completed form along with check payable to James Buelow at 112 Don Juan Circle, Yorktown VA 23693

Names ____________________________________

Number of people attending ____________

Amount Enclosed $_______________

Highlights from the Luray Rally

What a great weekend! Great scenery, weather, food, fellowship and accommodations. Special thanks to our hosts Cil & Fairleigh Schoolar and Liz & Butch Jones. Click here to view photos from the rally.

The rally kicked off Friday evening with happy hour and dinner. If you are not aware, Liz used to own / manage a pizzeria in Illinois. In keeping with that spirit, she served Chicago hot dogs with traditional sauce and seasoning and Chicago beef sandwiches.

Saturday morning we enjoyed a breakfast of egg casserole, bacon and gravy biscuits followed by a business meeting where the 2011-2012 officers were elected. Saturday evening we enjoyed a delicious beef tenderloin dinner. Sunday following a breakfast of homemade sausage gravy biscuits and coffee cake, we packed up and said our goodbyes.

There was lots to see and do in the area. While some members ventured out to Luray caverns, Skyline Drive, small town shops, and even Camping World in Winchester, others relaxed outside their motor homes and enjoyed the spectacular mountain views.

This was a great campground for a rally. We parked on spacious sites and held our group activities inside a yurt. If enough members are willing to commit, we could make reservations for a future year during leaf season.

Business Reports

A business meeting for the Dogwood Chapter was held on Saturday September 19, 2010. Click on these links to view the treasurer's report and secretary's report.

Member Updates

A special welcome to new members June and Bob Gausman who are former Dogwood members.

Former Dogwood member Elizabeth De Monte wrote that Nick received stents for 3 heart blockages. He is doing well and is lucky the problem was found during a routine doctor's visit before a heart attack occurred. They are headed for Florida and will work for Disney again this year. They have put their house in Virginia on the market.

Clint and Pat Allen sent pictures of their new mode of forward motion in their "motor home from hell". Following repairs to the alternator and a huge crack in the manifold they enjoyed their trip to Cape Cod. Click here for pictures.

Recipes

Grilled Marinated Shrimp - Donna and Carl Gruel

Serves 4

2 lbs raw jumbo shrimp, peeled, deveined

3 cloves garlic - minced

1 lemon, juice of

1 cup olive oil OR vegetable oil

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

2 tbsp hot sauce

1 tbsp tomato paste OR 2 tbsp ketchup

1 tbsp minced fresh oregano OR 2 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

Combine all ingredients in large sealable plastic bag.

Marinate at room temp for 2 hours (can do early in day and put if frig)

Put shrimp on skewers, in a grilling basket, or you can stir fry on grill in a grill stir fry pan.

Grill over medium grill for 5 minutes each side if on skewers or in basket.

If in stir fry pan, it takes about 8 - 9 minutes - remember it's STIR FRY so stir it a few times.

The shrimp are done when they are firm.

A great appetizer, a fish entrée or over pasta.

Seasoned Pretzels - Judy Davis

1 and half teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon dill weed

1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning

1 envelope Hidden Valley dry ranch dressing mix

1 cup olive oil

1 pound pretzel nuggets

In a small bowl mix spices, ranch mix and oil. Put pretzels in a large bowl. Pour oil mixture over pretzels and stir to coat. Pour pretzels onto a baking sheet and spread out evenly. Bake at 215 for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minute. Store in an airtight container.

Fresh Fruit Salad - Cil Schoolar

3 medium bananas

1 cup strawberries, halved

4 medium oranges, pared & sectioned

1 cup seedless green grapes, halved

Sour Cream Honey Dressing

1/2 cup dairy sour cream

1 tbsp honey

1 tbsp orange juice

Slice bananas, strawberries, oranges & grapes. Place in large mixing bowl.

In small bowl, combine sour cream, honey, orange juice and mix well.

Coat the fresh fruit with the dressing & refrigerate for 2 hours or more before serving.

For the rally, I tripled the recipe and used 4 cans of mandarin oranges instead of medium oranges.

Chocolate Mousse - Cil Schoolar

12 oz package semi-sweet chocolate morsels

2 1/2 cup whipping cream, divided

1 tablespoon rum

garnishes: whipped cream, grated chocolate

Microwave chocolate morsels and 1/2 cup cream in small glass bowl at High for 1 1/2 minutes or until melted, stirring twice. Stir in vanilla and rum, blending well. Cool 5 minutes. Beat remaining 2 cups cream at medium speed with electric mixer until soft peaks form, fold cream into chocolate mixture. Pipe or spoon into a large serving bowl or dessert dishes. Garnish with additional whipped cream and grated chocolate, if desired. Chill 2 hours. Makes 6-8 servings.

Cream Cheese Coffee Cake - Cil Schoolar

2 cans crescent rolls

2 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese

1 cup sugar

1 egg separated

1 tsp vanilla

Topping

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Mix ingredients for topping and set aside.

Unroll 1 can of crescent roll in bottom of 9x13 pan.

Mix cream cheese, vanilla, sugar and egg yolk. Spread mixture on top of crescent roll.

Unroll 2nd can of crescent roll over cream cheese mixture. Beat egg white with fork and brush on rolls. Sprinkle topping and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Cool and refrigerate before cutting.

Baked Mashed Potatoes - Cil Schoolar

5 lbs potatoes, peeled and cubed

1/4 lb butter (1 stick)

1 cup sour cream

8 oz cream cheese

1 tsp seasoned salt (such as Lowrey's)

1 tsp onion salt

1/4 tsp pepper

Boil potatoes until done. Drain, add all other ingredients and mash until thoroughly mixed. Place mixture in a greased 13x9x2 casserole dish or small metal pan. Before baking, top with corn flakes or potato chips. Bake for 1 hour at 350.

The recipe could be made the day before and refrigerated overnight, in this case bake for 1 1/2 hours at 350.

Chilies Rellenos Bake - Cil Schoolar

8 large eggs

1 cup sour cream

1/4 tsp salt

2 drops hot sauce

2 cups (8 oz) shredded Monterey Jack cheese

2 cups (8 oz) shredded cheddar cheese

2 (4 oz) cans chopped green chiles

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 13x9x2 baking dish with butter or shortening.

Beat eggs, sour cream, salt, & hot sauce in large bowl with wire whisk. Stir in cheeses and chiles. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes or until golden brown and set in center. Remove from oven and allow to sit 5 minutes before serving.